Charles Augustus Briggs

Religion has always shaped society. Whether it was the devotion to it, questioning it, or the fight over the two, religion has always been a part of a culture, especially before the modern classification of atheism. In the 19th century, it was still seen as a "crime against religion" to counter something that the church told its believers. Charles Augustus Briggs was among the first to stand for his own laws of belief. Educated at the University of Virginia, Briggs followed his degree took an appointment of pastor at a Presbyterian church, and then with a long journey in Europe where he was exposed to many other ideologies about religion and its importance in life. 14 years later, he accepted a job as a professor of theology. In his teachings, Briggs countered some traditional beliefs about the Bible, namely that there were certain discrepancies and errors in the original testament of the Bible. He also countered the belief that Moses was the author of the Pentateuch. Briggs even went further to claim that salvation was not achieved through death. All of these beliefs brought him to trial where he was tried for heresy. Although he was acquitted, his messages were not forgotten, and eventually, the Presbyterian church excommunicated Briggs. Much like former religious activists Martin Luthor and John Calvin, Briggs was shunned for his beliefs, emphasizing the intense hold that the church had on society and their thoughts.